Sibel Kekilli on Shae’s betrayal, and her time on Game of Thrones

Twice this season Tyrion Lannister thought he had seen the last of his former flame, Shae, only to have her reappear at his lowest moments. The first when she shockingly betrayed him at his trial, no doubt under the influence of the Lannisters, and again, when he sought out revenge on his father, only to find Shae in the last place he would expect, Tywin’s bed. What happened next was tragic, as two lovers fought to defend themselves, and a heartbroken Tyrion strangled Shae with a necklace he had given her.

In a number of new interviews this week, Sibel Kekilli talks about Shae’s final moments, her last day on set, and what being a part of Game of Thrones has meant to her.

Sibel spoke with TV Line about the circumstances that led to Shae’s betrayal of Tyrion, and how she found herself in Tywin’s bed.

So, what was Shae’s state of mind when she came into the courtroom later in the season and lied under oath while Tyrion was on trial for his life — told the court he’d plotted to murder Joffrey?I try to understand why she’s behaving like that. She got hurt very much, and all her hopes just disappeared into the wind. Like an earthquake, the foundation she was building on their relationship was just broken. And at that moment, it was revenge, and I really understood that. After years of being loyal, cleaning [chamber] pots for his wife, being treated like a dog, she’s like, “I’m here for revenge. And I wouldn’t be here if you, Tyrion, had left the country with me. You forced me somehow to do this.” And did she have a choice, anyway? If Cersei wants something, if Tywin wants something, she’s a woman without family, she’s on her own. She didn’t have a real choice to say, “No, I’m not going to this trial.” It was revenge, but it was also blackmail and coercion.

Shae’s final scene: How did you feel when you first read the script and realized she was in Tywin’s bed?Oh God. [Sighs] When I act, I try not to think like Sibel. I try to think like Shae. But, again, she didn’t have any choice after the trial scene. The people hated Tyrion after the trial, and she had been with him. Who could she be with after that? There was one choice. She had to choose the most powerful man in King’s Landing. And who is that? It’s Tywin. If she wants to stay alive, she has to take that step. In the end, she thinks Tywin is in the room, and she says “My Lion.” That expression was for Tyrion only. He was her lion. But because she’s a prostitute again, she’s lost all hope for a regular life, she’s trying to get rid of everything that reminds her of Tyrion — to make nothing special of what they had.

In an interview with Access Hollywood, Sibel wonders if things would have ended differently if Tyrion didn’t find Shae in his father’s bed.

Do you think he would have killed her had he not found her in his dad’s bed? If Tyrion had just run into her after his escape, and he’d just found her serving another lady, do you think he would have still killed her?I guess, yeah. I think he wouldn’t [have killed] her if he [found] her serving another lady, as you said. Maybe, just, ‘Okay, goodbye.’ It [ends] like that. … Or somehow, they would never be a couple again. … But, to lie in the bed of the father… wearing this necklace, which he tried to give her when he said, ‘I’m gonna marry Sansa,’ and then [she’s] saying, ‘My lion’– it was just for him, this [saying of] ‘my lion.’ And now she’s saying that to Tywin. That was it. It was like, ‘Okay, I’m now really, really angry and hurt and that’s enough.’

Sibel reveals to Yahoo TV that she and Peter Dinklage didn’t rehearse the scene too much to keep the emotions raw, and details her final day on set.

What was the lead-up to filming that scene? Did you and Peter discuss it beforehand? We had dinner — David, Dan, and Peter and I — one day before the death scene. But we didn’t talk much about the scene. We didn’t even rehearse it, because that kind of scene is so emotional. I don’t like to rehearse a lot, or to talk too much about that scene. It should just happen with the raw feelings. He’s crying at the end, Tyrion.

He should be! [Laughs.] I know. I think you shouldn’t rehearse this, because it’s so emotional and I didn’t want to talk about it too much. For me, I knew it was going to be my last scene, and I was so sad… I just wanted to feel it in the moment.

Walk me through that last day on set. How long was the day? How emotional was it? It was a long day, and after the scene, Peter had one more scene to film. And it was late in the day because our scene took a long time. It was a stunt scene, because we were fighting with each other and you have to be really careful and film the [fight choreography] step-by-step, so it took a bit longer.

It was my last shooting day, my death. It was my last scene and it was really emotional [for me]. She’s now at the end, where she was at the beginning before she met Tyrion, you know what I mean? Before she met him, she was a prostitute, and she started to love someone, and Tyrion started to love her. And even though she knows she’s not highborn, she was hoping that she could have a family life with him if he would be stronger than he was.

All this, it’s like a dream which just disappeared, and now she starts again where she was at the beginning. She’s again by herself, on her own, trying to stay alive. I guess people hate Shae, but every woman would be jealous and react emotionally without thinking after a man tells you, “You are a whore, you can’t bear my children.” Even though she is a prostitute, it was like [Tyrion was] spitting in her face, punching her in the face.

Sibel told the NY Times Arts Beat about what happened after she wrapped her final scene, and the souvenir she decided to take home with her.

Do they do anything special for you when you wrap your final day? Are there any traditions or rituals, or do you just leave the set and that’s it?They came and clapped, and I got my applause. But they had to go on with the other scenes and I was relieved. I didn’t want to stay there and cry. I just wanted to leave. I just wanted to be alone. I asked, actually, for the necklace, if I could take it with me.

You wanted to keep that?Yes! Of course. I guess I can’t wear it, because a lot of fans would strangle me to death with it. I have to keep it here at home. But I took it with me.

Sibel tells Zap2It that she didn’t initially know about her character’s fate, but fans couldn’t keep the secret for long, and that even on her final day on set she hoped that she could change David and Dan’s mind.

“I didn’t want to [know about the death], but all the super fans were like, ‘You’re gonna die! You’re gonna die!’ And like, ‘Do you know, Sibel, your end?’ Even my friends, I was like, ‘No, I don’t want to know it.’ ‘You’re gonna sleep the father,’ and I was like, ‘No I’m not. No.’ ‘Yes you do, Sibel!’ Oh, Jesus. I was hoping that they were going to change it. … I’m still hoping that I’ll come back as a zombie.”

“It was really hard. It was so hard. Even my last shooting day in Belfast, I was like, ‘No, no, I’m going to die.’ I said to Dan and David, I’m not acting that. ‘No, I will fight with Tyrion — with Peter — so maybe he’s going to die. You never know.’ They said, ‘No Sibel, there is no excuse and there is no exit. You have to do that.'”

In an interview with Vulture Sibel says that she got a very nice compliment from George R.R. Martin, and talks about some of the great death faces we’ve seen on Game of Thrones

Book Shae is very different than Shae on the show. In the books, she really is just a prostitute. On the show, it becomes more of a love relationship. But it’s heartbreaking either way, because you don’t want her to die![Laughs] Yes, that’s true. When I met George R.R. Martin for the first time, he said, “Oh Sibel, your Shae is better than my Shae.” It was a really big honor when he told me that. But even though [showrunners] David [Benioff] and Dan [Weiss] changed Shae in the show, it had to come to the same end, somehow.

Of course, the emotional part is important, but Game of Thrones also does great death faces, like Joffrey’s at the Purple Wedding.[Laughs] That was a great one! My favorite was Oberyn’s at the trial by combat. But I love all the death scenes on Game of Thrones, because it’s really funny. Not funny funny, I don’t mean that, but the people will never forget these memorable death scenes. That’s one of the most important death scenes on this show. Like on the very first season, the brother of Khaleesi, Viserys — he had a golden crown. That was fantastic, and I will never forget that.

Sibel spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about Shae’s end, saying that she doesn’t consider Shae a victim, and knows the fan reaction to her death will be split. And on a final note, she explains what being a part of Game of Thrones has meant to her.

In the end, do you consider Shae a victim?Not a victim. For me, calling her a victim would mean she was weak. She was low-born. She had a hard life. She had to learn how to stay alive. She was a victim of the system maybe, of life circumstances, but she was also a really strong woman.

What do you think fans will say about Shae’s fate?The fans are so great — but they can be tough on Shae. They either say “I love Shae or I hate you,” whereas Tyrion is considered untouchable by the fans. Some fans might say Shae somehow deserved it because she’s in Tywin’s bed. But it’s a very emotional and complicated scene.

What has Game of Thrones meant to you?I can’t really explain it in words. It means a lot to me. It’s a long time to stay alive in this show — four years. To have most of my parts with Peter, I was really, really lucky. I got to see a lot of great actors — young actors — children, like Sophie (Turner). Seeing her grow up was very special.

People who are not at the show anymore kept telling me, “Sibel, please enjoy every second, because nothing can compare to HBO and Dan and David and George R.R. Martin.” Dan and David created such a wonderful show, and George R.R. Martin created amazing books. They gave me, a non-native English speaker, many chances. The first season, Jaime and I were the only ones who were not native speakers, and then I was given more and more and more. It was fantastic.

Be sure to click through to all of the interviews, and look forward to Sibel’s curtain call soon.

She’s such a sweetheart. I never liked Shae in book or show, but every interview I’ve seen/read of Sibel she’s just so full of energy and one of the happiest souls out there, that I’ll definitely miss having her around. Glad she got the opportunity with GoT, and I hope it opens up some new avenues for her!

I think Sibel is a fine actress and made Shae in the show more interesting.

But IMO those scenes of “annoyed jealousy” towards Tyrion were hard to play for her because they could be easily underacted or overacted. They looked a bit of both from time to time. The rest was perfect.

However I always wondered all people love the actor who plays Ramsay in a constantly overacting way.

Show Shae is better than book Shae (at least in the first three seasons). Obviously, the character gets annoying in season 4 given the material but still. We need a curtain call for Sibel, Charles Dance and Rory McCan (yes, I know there are theories that he’s still alive- and there’s no reason to spoiler tag- but I still doubt he’ll ever come back into play).

You’ll do a great job, I’m sure. I love her portrayal, and the character in general, turning a forgettable and one-note book character into a person who loves and dreams and hurts. Who does what’s necessary. She is often overlooked when people mention the great characters and acting on display, which to me is unfortunate.

I had no sympathy for Book Shae but Show Shae was very different Sibel did a fine job making Shae seem tough, passionate, maternal towards Sansa and also jealous of her. She was a much more 3-D character than in the books mainly because they decided to make their relationship one of love and not one where they were mutually using each other. And I think I read somewhere that D&D decided to do that after they met and auditioned Sibel. We probably have her to thank for taking what was a flat and hateful character and turning her into an interesting and tragic character. I wish her all the best.

Sibel is a lovely person, And she understood the character so extremely well. I blame neither Tyrion nor Shae. Shae was forced into the situation to stay alive, and Tyrion, hounded by everyone to falsely be accused and sentenced to die the next day, was very human in his need for revenge at that moment. In Tyrion’s shoes, I would have done exactly the same – since it was my life or hers at that moment. If Tyrion hadn’t gone for her, he would have been killed immediately by guards, Shae, Tywin.

Of course, Tywin’s death on tthe toilet was one of the high points of the series so far! :) I am looking forward to a Tywin-less next season.

You’ll do a great job, I’m sure. I love her portrayal, and the character in general, turning a forgettable and one-note book character into a person who loves and dreams and hurts. Who does what’s necessary. She is often overlooked when people mention the great characters and acting on display, which to me is unfortunate.

Well said. Show Shae was a great improvement over Book Shae and Sibel’s enthusiasm for her character was a big part of it. Wish her much luck in future endeavors.

And yes, Fury will write a great Curtain Call for her.

The Curtain Calls are one of the best parts of this site. They provide a rare instance for everyone to put aside anger and disappointment about the show and offer appreciation for the its talented performers. GOT ranks among the best casts ever assembled on TV. This is a naive wish but I would love if these actors/actresses read the posts in Curtain Calls to realize how much they are appreciated by GOT fandom.

chamush,
Sibel said that Shae’s motivation wasn’t just revenge but also coercion. We know Tywin ordered that no ships were allowed to leave before Tyrion even told her to leave. Plus Shae was all about survival and she knew going back that she’d only be a kingslayer’s whore to everyone in KL–that would not bode well for her chances. Sibel says this in the interview and then says that she probably seduced Tywin in order to be safe because of this fact. Also, do you remember during the trial when Tyrion said he’d confess, Shae looked upset and worried for him. It confused me at first until I realized she must not have had a choice to testify. But her anger was real and since she was given the opportunity to get back at him, she took advantage of it. Still in the end I don’t think she wanted him dead. Seems really illogical outside looking in but people have mixed motivations all the time and do stupid and sometimes dangerous things because of them (e.g., Oberyn–he didn’t just want revenge, he wanted closure and justice–he should have just stuck with revenge and tried to get closure and justice some other way). I think the weight of the evidence suggests that she was pulled off the ship and told to testify.

In the books thouhh they pretty much imply that she was paid off, which makes sense.

It’s a little more ambiguous in the show, but I kind of like that. We know as much as Tyrion knows and can try to piece it together. I think she was coerced to testify, and after their breakup Tyrion wasn’t worth dying for anymore. And she went back to being a prostitute, so that kind of explains in the abstract how she got in Tywin’s bed, without spelling it out. Liked Sibel’s insights here that Tywin is the most powerful person at King’s Landing and therefore the person who can protect her.

Based on the book I always the Hound was pretty much out of the picture, but…now that he’s actually met Brienne in the show I keep thinking how cool it would be <bfor them to meet again on the Quiet Isle and have an actual chat.

And given GoT’s seeming inability to let ANYONE disappear into the sunset, I do wonder if there is more ahead for him.

I love Sibel, and I loved Show Shea. Tyrion totally should have eloped with her, f**k the king.

I think it’s interesting that the character of Shea is so mysterious, in the show and the books. We never get her backstory, she does so much “off screen,” and Varys seems awfully interested in her. In a statement after the finale, GRRM implied that there is more to be revealed about Shea and her connection to Varys. (Great, MORE reasons to be impatient for WoW…)

“But I love all the death scenes on Game of Thrones, because it’s really funny. Not funny funny, I don’t mean that, but the people will never forget these memorable death scenes”. Shae the funny whore till the very end!
Sibel was excellent in portraying Shae and seems like a lovely person.
I wish her the best in her future roles.

Like many others, I was totally indifferent to book Shae and didn’t care a bit about her. Show Shae is a different story. She was portrayed as a person with feelings and aspirations and she truly loved Tyrion as demonstrated by her staying with him after Black Water when he fell from grace and lost everything but her. It was very touching when he returned to his bedchamber after Cercei revealed Ross was her prisoner and they pledge their love to each other. So many emotional moments that I was kind of hoping (like Sibel) that she would be kept alive unlike in the books. I am not a fan of the way they work her last moments. It didn’t make sense to me that Tyrion will murder her and then be upset when Tywin refered to her as a whore. Still enjoyed her in the show as she made Tyrion’s scenes more enjoyable and richer.

The fans are so great — but they can be tough on Shae. They either say “I love Shae or I hate you,” whereas Tyrion is considered untouchable by the fans.

YES. I love her and I love Shae. One of the few characters the show actually gave more depth to. It’s been horrifying seeing the way people have put Tyrion on a pedestal and vilified her. Even going as far as saying she deserved to be strangled to death.

D&D changed the character’s personality but not her actions. Then they failed to give any explanation for them, to give any insight into the character’s motivations. It was a failure on their part and a disservice to Shae and Sibel.

Josla: It didn’t make sense to me that Tyrion will murder her and then be upset when Tywin refered to her as a whore.

I think he was upset when Tywin called her that because he realized that it was him – Tyrion – calling her a “whore” that turned her against him and ultimately led to her death. So in a way he killed Tywin out of rage over his own actions.

Had he just murdered her on purpose and without any reaction from her, I would really think that she had no choice but to testify and she might have even thought or was told that Tyrion was going to live, but the way she attacked him with the knife leads me to believe she really wanted him dead and probably came back from the ship on her own will just to hurt him.

Ser Habakuk: I think he was upset when Tywin called her that because he realized that it was him – Tyrion – calling her a “whore” that turned her against him and ultimately led to her death. So in a way he killed Tywin out of rage over his own actions.

Well, yes. Because Tywin is the one who forced him to renounce her. In that sense, Tyrion feels that his father is ultimately responsible for her death (and the death of his relationship with her).

I haven’t been a fan of some of the writing frankly but Sibel has done a great job. She was especially fantastic in the trial scene – you could see in her body language and her line delivery that she was coerced and there was more going on. I really liked her relationship with Sansa on the show. Sibel seems lovely and I love how she defends her character and addresses some of the fandom misogyny and calls out the writing and nudity double standards. She deserved better than getting almost no lines at her death scene. I know she gets lots of hate but she seems lovely and I look forward to seeing her in more things.

Nice to see not too many people being awful and gross about her or her character on here – I’ve seen some terrible ‘she deserved it’ BS online. I hope people continue to keep it classy at her curtain call.

“But I love all the death scenes on Game of Thrones, because it’s really funny.”
Shae, the funny whore.

It’s nice that D&D (and Nina Gold) gave her the chance, especially regarding her background (non-native speaker (German) and with porn background before), I think she really nailed her role (and Tyrion ;))

I loved show Shae, she was soooo much better than that opportunistic wench from the books. Love how she helped and protected Sansa. Twould have been nice to see the coercion displayed more clearly but hey, subtle works too.

I don’t like how D&D exchanged her for Tysha in the Tyrion/Tywin scene, especially as they went to the trouble of telling that story very early on in the show. But hey, that not her fault.

^ A FORMER porn star. That was AGES ago!! And (this isn’t directed at you :D ) it just annoys the bleep out of me how people never seem to be able to see past that. She’s an actress now, she received raving reviews for her work in Gegen die Wand.

I never exactly warmed up to the show Shae, but these interview tidbits are awesome to read. And what I find ironic is that she wanted to keep the necklace that killed Shae :D